ONS: 08 July 2015

by TRG Alerts Admin on July 9, 2015

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: A report by the Small Arms Survey concluded that UN and AU peacekeeping forces in East Africa have repeatedly allowed their weapons to fall into the hands of armed groups responsible for much of the region’s violence.

AMERICAS: Mexico’s human rights agency said it is urging the army not to use ambiguous terms in orders, after activists revealed the army had essentially issued a directive to troops to kill suspected criminals.

ASIA: One-day peace talks between Afghan officials and Taliban representatives ended with both sides agreeing to meet again after Ramadan.

EUROPE: In Turkey, local media said the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority is building a new camp capable of hosting 55,000 Syrian refugees, while expecting an influx of some 100,000 due to imminent attacks by ISIS against the border area.

MIDDLE EAST: Western diplomats said that talks with Iran have now entered the “final” extension and have to conclude within 48 hours.

TECHNOLOGY: A new report indicates that a cyber attack which shuts down parts of the United States’ power grid could cost as much as USD1 trillion to the US economy.

TOP STORY

Greece: EU pressure increases as government claims plan in development.

Greek PM Tsipras said all sides must prevent division in Europe as they try to hammer out a solution to his country’s debt crisis in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Greek PM Tsipras said he was “confident” of meeting an end-of-the-week deadline set by eurozone leaders to reach a bailout deal or risk leaving the euro.

Greek PM Tsipras said his country has submitted a broad proposal to get another rescue plan and will present details in the coming days.

EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said an agreement with Greece is possible but it is up to its government to make credible proposals to its fellow eurozone members.

French central bank head Christian Noyer said Greece could descend into “chaos” unless a deal is found soon.

Region: A report by the Small Arms Survey concluded that UN and AU peacekeeping forces in East Africa have repeatedly allowed their weapons to fall into the hands of armed groups responsible for much of the region’s violence. (WP)

Egypt: Five civilians were killed when a mortar round hit a house in a North Sinai village where the army is battling jihadist insurgents. (AFP)

Egypt: The government will meet to discuss a controversial draft anti-terrorism law under which reporters could be jailed for contradicting official statements. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Chile: A bill which will allow citizens to grow small amounts of marijuana for medical, recreational or spiritual use has been approved by the country’s lower house of Congress. (BBC)

Guatemala: The National Institute for Forensic Science said that former President Efrain Rios Montt was declared “unable” to face a re-trial for alleged crimes against humanity due to his deteriorating mental faculties. (Xinhua)

Mexico: The government’s human rights agency said it is urging the army not to use ambiguous terms in orders, after activists revealed the army had essentially issued a directive to troops to kill suspected criminals. (AP)

ASIA

Region: The Philippines argued at a closed hearing at the Permanent Court of Arbitration that an international court should intervene in its dispute with China over the right to exploit natural resources and fish in the South China Sea. (Reuters)

Afghanistan: One-day peace talks between officials and Taliban representatives ended with both sides agreeing to meet again after Ramadan. (AP)

Burma: Officials set 08NOV as the date for a general election set to be the first contested by Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition in a quarter of a century. (AFP)

Korean Peninsula: North Korea threatened to retaliate should the South fail to return three of its citizens rescued from a drifting fishing boat. (AFP)

EUROPE

Serbia: PM Vucic said he would attend the 20th anniversary commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre this weekend in a bid to forge reconciliation. (AFP)

Turkey: Local media said the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority is building a new camp capable of hosting 55,000 Syrian refugees, while expecting an influx of some 100,000 due to imminent attacks by ISIS against the border area. (Xinhua)

United Kingdom: Finance Minister George Osborne is set to announce austerity cuts in the budget when presenting it to parliament. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: Western diplomats said that talks have now entered the “final” extension and have to conclude within 48 hours. (AFP)

Iraq: The trial of suspected ISIS militants accused of killing hundreds of soldiers last year began in Baghdad. (AP)

Yemen: At least 30 soldiers were killed in coalition air raids and clashes after troops attempted to defect to Iran-backed rebel ranks near the border with Saudi Arabia. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: A new report indicates that a cyber attack which shuts down parts of the United States’ power grid could cost as much as USD1 trillion to the US economy. (Reuters)